Ski shovel

ABSTRACT

A ski device is provided which is adapted to be detachably secured as a front guide runner to a handled shovel or scoop to utilize the scoop part of the shovel as a slide seat and the handle part as a forwardly upwardly extending hand grip. The device has a relatively narrow front runner part provided with backwardly extending arm means that is flexibly adjustable and adapted at its upper and back end to be secured on the handle of the shovel. The runner part also carries at its forward end a cross-extending foot-receiving rung or abutment and a mounting and positioning part therefor which are adapted to position the shoes or feet of a rider for guiding the ski. The device, itself, is detachably mounted in order that the shovel may be put to its conventional usage.

United States Patent Melnick et al.

[451 July 29,1975

SKI SHOVEL Inventors: Dennis M. Melnick, RD 1; Mark Kubick, BrooksideDr., both of Baden, Pa. 15005 Filed: July 9, 1973 Appl. No.: 377,417

Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 248,034, April 27,1972, abandoned.

US. Cl 280/15; 280/25 Int. Cl. B62b 13/16 Field of Search 280/15, 16, 12R, 12 B,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,522,952 8/1970 Uttenthaler280/12 R Primary Examiner-Robert R. Song [5 7] ABSTRACT A ski device isprovided which is adapted to be detachably secured as a front guiderunner to a handled shovel or scoop to utilize the scoop part of theshovel as a slide seat and the handle part as a forwardly up wardlyextending hand grip. The device has a relatively narrow front runnerpart provided with backwardly extending arm means that is flexiblyadjustable and adapted at its upper and back end to be secured on thehandle of the shovel. The runner part also carries at its forward end across-extending footreceiving rung or abutment and a mounting andpositioning part therefor which are adapted to position the shoes orfeet of a rider for guiding the ski. The device, itself, is detachablymounted in order that the shovel may be put to its conventional usage.

19 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 2 9 I975 1/ IIIIIIIIII/IIBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to an improved form of ski or sled device which utilizes ashovel to provide a unique operation assembly. A phase of the inventiondeals with a detachable runner and guide device for utilization in acooperative relation with a shovel to provide an effective sled or skiunit.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore, there have been various skidevices including devices which utilize a runner and a seat that iscarried by a post in an upper position thereon. However, such a deviceis relatively unstable and difficult to control and in high speedoperation is very dangerous. The present invention deals with devisingan improved device that will be highly stable, comfortable for the riderand, at the same time, capable of accurate guide control.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention deals with a ski device whichwill utilize adaptable parts of a shovel, such as of a shorthandled,scooplike shovel that may be of a coal or grain shovel configuration, soas to provide an improved body-supporting, slidable, positioning part ofa ski assembly. The ski device, itself, will serve as a forward,feet-receiving, guiding, advanced runner that is adjustably andremovably secured to the handle of the shovel in such a manner as togive the rider a comfortable, sta ble and secure position when utilizingthe assembly and, further, in such a manner as to utilize the scoopportion as a back runner part of the assembly.

It has been an object of the invention to provide a new and improvedform of ski or sled device and assembly.

Another object has been to devise a ski assembly that will make use of ashovel to provide a relatively high speed, stable, comfortable ride in apositively guidable sled or ski assembly.

These and other objects will appear to those skilled in the art from theillustrated embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view in elevationshowing a ski shovel unit or assembly of the invention with a rider inposition thereon.

FIG. 2 is a front end view in elevation on the same scale as and of theapparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view on the same scale as and of the ski shovelunit of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view in elevation and partial section of theski device part of the unit or assembly.

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the lineV-V of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a section on the scale of and taken along the line VI-VI ofFIG. 4 and,

FIG. 7 is a section on the scale of FIG. 6, taken along the same line,and showing a modified form of mountmg.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference particularly toFIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, A shows a typical shovel to which sledor ski device B may be applied to form an improved operating unit orassembly. As shown in FIG. 2, when the assembly is to be used, a rider Cmay sit on scoop part 10 of the shovel A with his legs extending onopposite sides of shovel handle or stem 11, and with his feet restingupon the device B to provide a comfortable riding position and one atwhich the assembly may be guided principally by the feet of the rider.If desired. the guiding may be supplemented by utilizing the grippingposition of the hands of the rider C about the handle 11. It isimmaterial whether or not the shovel A has a straight cylindrical end ora hand grip end part 12.

In employing the invention, it is preferable to provide a shovel whosescoop part 10 is of relatively planar or flat configuration havingslightly up-turned side edges and a relatively smooth underside suchthat it will freely slide along snow or ice. In FIG. 3, downwardlyoffset or outwardly convex reinforcing ribbing is shown along the bottomsurface of the shovel scoop part or body 10 that, in the presentutilization, serves to pro: vide a pair of speed-enhancing runnerportions or ribs 10a. The scoop part 10 is shown secured in the usualmanner by a clamping flange portion 10b to the lower end of the handleor handle stem 11 in such a manner as to form a secure, unitarystructure. The scoop body 10 may be of any suitable material, such asofsteel, reinforced plastic, glass fiber or aluminum construction, butis preferably of a metal or of reinforced resin construction to havesufficient strength and provide minimized friction of sliding movementon a snow runway. The handle 11 may be of wood, metal or reinforcedresin material.

The front or guide part of the assembly represented by the ski device Bhas a longitudinally forwardly, somewhat striplike, substantiallycentrally planar, relatively narrow, runner part 20' also of metal orother suitable material. The front end portion 200 is shown turnedupwardly for better guiding movement. A slightly downwardly projecting,centrally positioned and longitudinally extending ridge, runner or knifeedge portion 20b is provided along the underside of the runner part 20.The knife or runner edge portion 20b not only facilitates guiding theassembly, but gives the front runner part 20 stability from thestandpoint of minimizing slide slippage during its movement along asnowy pathway. A cross-extending abutment part, rung or foot rail 22 iscarried adjacent the front end portion of the runner part 20 on acentrally disposed upwardly extending triangular-shapedmounting-positioning block 21 that is secured, as by weld metal w, tothe upper side of the runner 20. It will be noted that the rail orabutment 22 has end portions which extend transversely from oppositesides of the positioning block 21, and that the runner 20 provides sidestrip or width portions along the block 21 sufficient to receive theheels of the shoes of the rider C when the shoe soles are in an upwardlyinclined resting position on the rung or rail 22. Force applied toeither foot will tend to cause the ski runner 20 to direct the skiassembly in that particular direction. Also, the hands of the rider Cgripping the handle 11 may be employed to throw the weight of the riderC in the direction in which travel is desired.

A telescopic mounting arm or rod and sleeve assembly having cooperatingparts 25 and 26 extends substantially centrally of the length of therunner part in a backwardly upwardly inclined relationship, and has anopen-sided, mounting collar or sleeve part 28 secured on its upper endfor cooperating with the shovel handle 11. The lower part is shown as ofrodlike construction and the upper part 26 is shown of cylindrical,sleevelike construction to slidably receive the lower part 25 therein. Aspiral expansion spring 24 (see FIG. 4) is carried in a cooperatingrelation within the sleevelike part 26 to engage the inner end of therodlike part 25 and urge them in a shock-absorbing, outwardly extendedrelation with respect to each other. To retain the parts 25 and 26 in aflexibly slidable or telescopic relation with respect to each other, asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rod part 25 has a longitudinal, closed-endguide slot or groove portion 25b that is adapted to receive an inner endof a threaded guide bolt 27 therein. As shown in FIG. 5, the bolt 27 isthreadably carried within a threaded bore 26a by the sleeve part 26 toextend therethrough, with its inner, smooth cam or stud end portion insliding engagement within the slot portion 25b. The lower end of the rodpart 25 is shown rigidly secured, as by weld metal w, to a centralportion of the runner 20 adjacent to and behind the block 21.

The mount 28 (as shown in FIG. 6) may be substantially half a segment ofa cylinder that has a concave curvature complementary with respect tothe curvature of the handle 11 to fit closely thereon. A gusset 28a isshown (see FIG. 4) secured by weld metal w to reinforce the connectionbetween the mount 28 and the sleeve part 26. The handle 11 may beprovided with a pair of spaced-apart, through-extending, bore holes 11a(see FIG. 6) to receive bolts of bolt and nut assemblies 29 which extendacross between opposite portions of the flangelike mount 28 to removablysecure the shovel A to the ski device B. FIG. 7 shows a modified form ofmount construction 28' in which the opposite walls 28'b of its mountingflange project slightly beyond the handle 11 in such a manner that thebolts of the assembly 29 may be employed on the outside of the handle11, without the necessity of through extending bore holes therein. Inboth constructions, however, the bolt and nut assemblies 29 aretightened-down to securely carry the device B on the handle 11.

To increase the speed of operation of the device B, it may have itsplanar side portions at a slightly upwardly angular relation withrespect to a central, longitudinal area or portion thereof.

We claim:

1. In a ski device employing a shovel having a relatively planar scooppart that is to serve as a seat for a rider and a rounded upwardlyextending and inclined handle that is to serve as a hand-gripping meansfor the rider, a ski attachment for the shovel which comprises, arelatively narrow longitudinally forwardly extending ski runner part, anupwardly projecting cross-extending foot-receiving abutment part mountedin a secure relation on the upper side of said runner part adjacent itsfront end, a backwardly upwardly inclined arm secured on the upper sideof said runner part in a backwardly spaced relation with respect to saidabutment part and having a mount at its upper end adapted to fit overthe handle of the shovel, and means cooperating'with said mount forsecuring said arm on the handle and for positioning said runner part ina spaced-apart forward relation with respect to the scoop part of theshovel.

2. In a device as defined in claim 1, said mount being of roundedconcave shape to fit over the handle of the shovel, and said securingmeans being bolt and nut assemblies cooperating with said mount forremovably securing it on the handle.

3. In a device as defined in claim 2, said mount being a slit sleeveadapted to fit over the handle, and said bolt and nut assembliesextending across opposite portions of said sleeve to securely clamp saidmount on the handle.

4. In a device as defined in claim 1, said arm being constructed of twoarm parts that have a slidable telescopic relation with respect to eachother, and means cooperating with said arm parts for retaining them in aconnected relation with respect to each other.

5. In a device as defined in claim 4, spiral spring means carried in acooperative relation within one arm part and abutting the other arm partfor flexibly urging said arm parts outwardly with respect to each other.

6. In a device as defined in claim 5, said means for retaining said armparts in a connected relation being a threaded bolt on one of said armparts and a longitudinally extending closed-end slot portion along theother of said arm parts and adapted to slidably receive an inner end ofsaid bolt.

7. In a ski device as defined in claim 6, the other of said arm partsbeing a hollow cylindrical sleevelike part and the one of said arm partsbeing a rodlike part adapted to slidably fit at its upper end withinsaid sleevelike part, said sleevelike part carrying said mount at itsupper end, and said rodlike part being secured at its lower end on saidrunner part.

8. In a device as defined in claim 7, said mount being an inwardlyconcave flange to fit over the handle, and said securing means havingbolts extending through opposite portions of said flange and having nutsmounted on ends of said bolts to tighten said flange down on the handle.

9. In a device as defined in claim 8 wherein the handle has a pair ofspaced-apart through-extending holes located intermediate its length,and said bolts extend between opposite portions of said flange throughthe holes in the handle.

10. In a device as defined in claim 1, a centrally located positioningblock secured on the upper side of said runner part, and said abutmentpart being mounted on a forward end portion of said block and extendingtransversely with respect to opposite sides thereof to receive feet ofthe rider.

11. In a device as defined in claim 9, said runner part having adownwardly projecting centrally located and longitudinally extendingrunner blade along its under side, having an upwardly curved front endportion, and having substantially planar longitudinal side portions.

12. In a device as defined in claim 1 1, said planar side portions ofsaid runner extending sidewise-upwardly in an inclined relation withrespect to a longitudinally extending central portion thereof.

13. In a device as defined in claim 11, said arm having a pair oftelescopically adaptable arm parts, one of which is secured to saidrunner part and the other of which carries said mount.

14. In a device as defined in claim 13, said mount having a cylindricalshape and being adapted to fit over the shovel handle in a complementarymanner, and said securing means for said arm extending between oppositeportions of said mount across the handle.

15. In a device as defined in claim 14, a spiral expansion springcarried in a cooperating manner between said pair of arm parts forurging them in an outwardly extending relation with respect to eachother, and means carried by one of said arm parts and cooperating withthe other of said parts for retaining them in a connected relation withrespect to each other.

16. In a device as defined in claim wherein the scoop part of the shovelis of metal construction and has bottom ribs that serve as runners, oneof said arm parts being pivotally secured to said runner partsubstantially intermediate its length, and said runner part having asubstantially planar upper side of sufficient width to receive both feetof the rider along opposed sides of said positioning block when the feetof the rider are in a guiding position against opposite transverse endportions of said abutment part.

17. A recreational device as specified in claim 1 wherein thelongitudinal axis of said arm means is substantially normal to thelongitudinal axis of said handle.

18. In an improved ski device, a metal scoop-like runner-seat part, ahandle secured to and extending in an inclined direction forwardlyupwardly from said runner-seat part to provide a hand gripping means fora rider, a forwardly positioned ski-like runner part, a foot-receivingcross-extending member carried by a front end portion of said runnerpart, a backwardly inclined mounting arm assembly secured at its lowerend behind said cross-extending member to said runner part to projectbackwardly from said runner part, and said mounting arm assembly havinga clamping mount adapted to be secured on said] handle.

19. A recreational device comprising: a shovel having a surface engagingrunner seat and an elongated handle having the lowermost end thereofsecured to said seat and extending diagonally forwardly and upwardlytherefrom; longitudinally forwardly extending surface engaging forwardrunner means; said forward runner means being spaced forwardly from saidrunner seat; at least one elongated arm means having the lower endthereof secured to said runner means adjacent the uppermost surface ofsaid runner means and extending diagonally upwardly and backwardlytherefrom and having the upper end thereof secured to said handle.

1. In a ski device employing a shovel having a relatively planar scooppart that is to serve as a seat for a rider and a rounded upwardlyextending and inclined handle that is to serve as a hand-gripping meansfor the rider, a ski attachment for the shovel which comprises, arelatively narrow longitudinally forwardly extending ski runner part, anupwardly projecting cross-extending foot-receiving abutment part mountedin a secure relation on the upper side of said runner part adjacent itsfront end, a backwardly upwardly inclined arm secured on the upper sideof said runner part in a backwardly spaced relation with respect to saidabutment part and having a mount at its upper end adapted to fit overthe handle of the shovel, and means cooperating with said mount forsecuring said arm on the handle and for positioning said runner part ina spaced-apart forward relation with respect to the scoop part of theshovel.
 2. In a device as defined in claim 1, said mount being ofrounded concave shape to fit over the handle of the shovel, and saidsecuring means being bolt and nut assemblies cooperating with said mountfor removably securing it on the handle.
 3. In a device as defined inclaim 2, said mount being a slit sleeve adapted to fit over the handle,and said bolt and nut assemblies extending across opposite portions ofsaid sleeve to securely clamp said mount on the handle.
 4. In a deviceas defined in claim 1, said arm being constructed of two arm parts thathave a slidable telescopic relation with respect to each other, andmeans cooperating with said arm parts for retaining them In a connectedrelation with respect to each other.
 5. In a device as defined in claim4, spiral spring means carried in a cooperative relation within one armpart and abutting the other arm part for flexibly urging said arm partsoutwardly with respect to each other.
 6. In a device as defined in claim5, said means for retaining said arm parts in a connected relation beinga threaded bolt on one of said arm parts and a longitudinally extendingclosed-end slot portion along the other of said arm parts and adapted toslidably receive an inner end of said bolt.
 7. In a ski device asdefined in claim 6, the other of said arm parts being a hollowcylindrical sleevelike part and the one of said arm parts being arodlike part adapted to slidably fit at its upper end within saidsleevelike part, said sleevelike part carrying said mount at its upperend, and said rodlike part being secured at its lower end on said runnerpart.
 8. In a device as defined in claim 7, said mount being an inwardlyconcave flange to fit over the handle, and said securing means havingbolts extending through opposite portions of said flange and having nutsmounted on ends of said bolts to tighten said flange down on the handle.9. In a device as defined in claim 8 wherein the handle has a pair ofspaced-apart through-extending holes located intermediate its length,and said bolts extend between opposite portions of said flange throughthe holes in the handle.
 10. In a device as defined in claim 1, acentrally located positioning block secured on the upper side of saidrunner part, and said abutment part being mounted on a forward endportion of said block and extending transversely with respect toopposite sides thereof to receive feet of the rider.
 11. In a device asdefined in claim 9, said runner part having a downwardly projectingcentrally located and longitudinally extending runner blade along itsunder side, having an upwardly curved front end portion, and havingsubstantially planar longitudinal side portions.
 12. In a device asdefined in claim 11, said planar side portions of said runner extendingsidewise-upwardly in an inclined relation with respect to alongitudinally extending central portion thereof.
 13. In a device asdefined in claim 11, said arm having a pair of telescopically adaptablearm parts, one of which is secured to said runner part and the other ofwhich carries said mount.
 14. In a device as defined in claim 13, saidmount having a cylindrical shape and being adapted to fit over theshovel handle in a complementary manner, and said securing means forsaid arm extending between opposite portions of said mount across thehandle.
 15. In a device as defined in claim 14, a spiral expansionspring carried in a cooperating manner between said pair of arm partsfor urging them in an outwardly extending relation with respect to eachother, and means carried by one of said arm parts and cooperating withthe other of said parts for retaining them in a connected relation withrespect to each other.
 16. In a device as defined in claim 15 whereinthe scoop part of the shovel is of metal construction and has bottomribs that serve as runners, one of said arm parts being pivotallysecured to said runner part substantially intermediate its length, andsaid runner part having a substantially planar upper side of sufficientwidth to receive both feet of the rider along opposed sides of saidpositioning block when the feet of the rider are in a guiding positionagainst opposite transverse end portions of said abutment part.
 17. Arecreational device as specified in claim 1 wherein the longitudinalaxis of said arm means is substantially normal to the longitudinal axisof said handle.
 18. In an improved ski device, a metal scoop-likerunner-seat part, a handle secured to and extending in an inclineddirection forwardly upwardly from said runner-seat part to provide ahand gripping means for a rider, a forwardly positioned ski-like runnerpart, a foot-rEceiving cross-extending member carried by a front endportion of said runner part, a backwardly inclined mounting arm assemblysecured at its lower end behind said cross-extending member to saidrunner part to project backwardly from said runner part, and saidmounting arm assembly having a clamping mount adapted to be secured onsaid handle.
 19. A recreational device comprising: a shovel having asurface engaging runner seat and an elongated handle having thelowermost end thereof secured to said seat and extending diagonallyforwardly and upwardly therefrom; longitudinally forwardly extendingsurface engaging forward runner means; said forward runner means beingspaced forwardly from said runner seat; at least one elongated arm meanshaving the lower end thereof secured to said runner means adjacent theuppermost surface of said runner means and extending diagonally upwardlyand backwardly therefrom and having the upper end thereof secured tosaid handle.